LONDON-In a move that may foretell a new opportunity fund, the Greenwich, CT-based investor creates a new position, head of European operations, and fills it with Roger Barris, formerly the head of European operations for DB Real Estate Opportunities Group. Barris will work out of Starwood Capital's London office.

INDIANAPOLIS-Locally based Simon Property Group in 2006 will move its headquarters across the street from its current location to a new office tower to be developed by Duke Realty Corp.

HAYWARD, CA-The freight hauler leases a one-time Hunt Wesson Foods manufacturing and canning facility here from owner ConAgra Foods for a three-year term. After the lease expires, the property is slated for redevelopment as residential housing.

PORTLAND-Despite slow growth in rent and employment, the Portland retail market is holding its own, according to a new report by a national real estate services firm.

LAS VEGAS-The subsidiary of publicly traded American Real Estate Partners of Mount Kisco, NY, owner of the Stratosphere at the north end of the Strip, adds two suburban casinos. The seller was billionaire Carl Icahn, chairman of AREP's general partner American Property Investors.

SEATTLE-The Cupertino, CA-based company pays about $40.4 million for the 11-story apartment building, which opened in late 2003 and is about 45% leased. The seller was the developer, a joint venture of Opus Northwest and Holland Partners.

REDWOOD CITY, CA-The 46-acre Marina Shores Village development would include 17 towers holding 1,930 housing units along Blair Island Road. The project also would include a hotel, two marinas, 150,000-sf of office space and 25,000 sf of retail space.

EUGENE, OR-Mayor Jim Torrey breaks a 4-4 tie to shoot down a motion before the city council that would have instituted a temporary ban on stores larger than 50,000 sf.